Blantyre is a key city in Malawi and the largest city in the country. The City is the administrative capital of Blantyre district and is situated to the southeast of Lilongwe. Blantyre has a population of about 650,000 people; the city is one of the key centers for trade and commerce in the country. The City shares its name with the small Scottish Town of Blantyre where explorer David Livingstone.
Blantyre was founded in 1876 by Scottish Missionaries as a small village and trade centre. Lilongwe was chosen over Blantyre as the Malawian Capital mainly due to the Lilongwe’s central location.
Transport in Blantyre:
The City is linked to Lilongwe via a railway line. There are also buses that travel regularly from the city to different destinations around the country. Blantyre is served by the Chileka Airport which is one of the key hubs for Air Malawi. The airline flies regularly between Blantyre and Lilongwe.
Tourism: the city has a number of interesting places to visit and entertainment options including; a museum, zoo and animal orphanage, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The Michiru Mountain Park one of Malawi’s premier attraction is easily reachable from the city.
Flights to Blantyre:
There are a number of regular scheduled flights each week to the City of Blantyre. These usually leave from the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and other cities in Malawi. The Chileka Airport serves the city of Blantyre and is one of the busiest in the country.
The airport is one of the main bases for national airline Air Malawi. The airline flies regularly to a number of domestic destinations and international destinations via Lilongwe. Most international visitors to Blantyre arrive via the Kamuzu Airport in Lilongwe and board connecting flights.
Hotels in Blantyre:
Blantyre is the largest city in Malawi and a major centre for trade and commerce. The city is also home to one of the busiest airports in the country which is a hub for Air Malawi. There are a number of good hotels in Blantyre and some of the best establishments in the country can be found here. Popular hotels in Blantyre include;
Hotel Mount Soche: ranked amongst the best in Blantyre, the Mount Soche Hotel is easily reachable from the Chileka Airport. The hotel is situated at Glyn Jones Road near the city centre. A four star rated hotel, Mount Soche offers; bars, restaurants, room service, swimming pool, business and meeting facilities and 132 air conditioned rooms with satellite television, radio and telephone.
Protea Hotel Ryalls: situated at 2 Hannover Avenue in the Blantyre CBD, the Protea Hotel is one of the leading hotels in this the largest city in Malawi. Facilities and services here include; internet access, satellite television, air conditioned rooms, conferencing facilities, restaurants, bars, swimming pool, disabled access, tennis courts.
Other hotels in Blantyre are; Shire Highlands Hotel and Hostellerie de France.
